Local nurse experiences first protest at RNC

Tampa, Florida -- Many of the protesters gathered in Tampa's Perry Harvey Park came with signs and experience, but Laura Davis came with just a sign.

"I'm a registered nurse and I am for national healthcare," she said, adding that she's never been to a protest before.

But it didn't take long for this protest newbie to get in the swing of things.

"It's kind of exciting to be here," she said walking along with hundreds of others. "You feel the energy."

And while the March on the RNC included groups of people dressed in all black and hiding their faces, Davis wasn't overly worried about possible trouble.

"I think it's going to be very peaceful-I hope-I mean, I don't want to get arrested," said Davis, eyeing the group wearing black.

Along the parade route, Davis took it all in-the chants, the signs, the wild outfits-and she met people sharing similar goals, like a fellow nurse from Clermont.

"There's a lot to see. I wish I could see it all. When you're part of the trees, you can't see the forest I guess," she said with a laugh.

And step after step, Davis remained committed to her cause-better healthcare for all.

"I've seen people go bankrupt, if they've got cancer," said Davis. "I just really think America is such a wonderful country, we should be number one in healthcare in the world and we're not."

But can hundreds of people, simply pounding the pavement, do any good? Davis says the media helps spread the message. And at the end of the day, Davis may have sore feet, but deep down she feels good.

"I do. It's not enough to sit back and vote for it and donate for it," Davis said, from the protest's final destination near the Tampa Bay Times Forum. "I think you need to be out there saying what you believe and that's why I'm here for the first time doing it."